May 1976 -- TV Themes & early Disco

Another fun countdown today as disco gains steam.  Former #1's "Disco Lady" and "Boogie Fever" are still charting, along with Maxine Nightengale, the Andrea True Connection, and Silver Convention.

Early 70's adult contemporary is basically gone, replaced by the Captain & Tennille, Barry Manilow variety.

Brand new to the charts -- Boz Scaggs and the Brothers Johnson (first week each), Billy Ocean (not to return for 7 years), and Hall and Oates.  Early days for hit making for ELO, Fleetwood Mac, and Eric Carmen.

Last chart record:  Johnny Cash, with his only top 40 hit of the American Top 40 era

Strange Theme:  TV tunes:  Happy Days, Welcome Back Kotter, and Baretta Themes charting concurrently.  

Totally out of place -- a spoken word record called IOU for Mother's Day.  It bounded in to the top 40 and fell from there.  Barring that, Elvis' record seemed rather out of place too as many of his late charting hits did.  What Casey didn't know was that a record he described as totally unique, "Bohemian Rhapsody" would hit the top 10 again in the mid-90's, and the group would become iconic.

At #1, the longest charting #1 of the year -- just another Silly Love Song, one of the first top 40 songs I remember.

Favorites (4-star) Hall & Oates, Eric Carmen, Maxine Nightingale, Billy Ocean, Bellamy Brothers, and my favorite of the bunch:  Maxine Nightingale.

1 3 SILLY LOVE SONGS –•– Wings (Capitol)-7 (1 week at #1)
2 5 LOVE HANGOVER –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-8
3 4 FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE –•– Elvin Bishop (Capricorn)-12
4 1 BOOGIE FEVER –•– The Sylvers (Capitol)-15
5 7 GET UP AND BOOGIE (That’s Right) –•– Silver Convention (Midland International)-11
6 2 WELCOME BACK –•– John Sebastian (Reprise)-9
7 9 HAPPY DAYS –•– Pratt and McClain (Reprise)-8
8 14 MISTY BLUE –•– Dorothy Moore (Malaco)-10
9 10 SHANNON –•– Henry Gross (Lifesong)-13
10 11 TRYIN’ TO GET THE FEELING AGAIN –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-10

11 12 SARA SMILE –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-17
12 13 FOOL TO CRY / HOT STUFF –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-5
13 16 RHIANNON (Will You Ever Win) –•– Fleetwood Mac (Reprise)-12
14 15 STRANGE MAGIC –•– The Electric Light Orchestra (United Artists)-11
15 8 RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM –•– Maxine Nightingale (United Artists)-15
16 6 SHOW ME THE WAY –•– Peter Frampton (A&M)-14
17 31 SHOP AROUND –•– The Captain and Tennille (A&M)-4
18 21 LOVE IN THE SHADOWS –•– Neil Sedaka (Rocket)-7
19 20 HAPPY MUSIC –•– The Blackbyrds (Fantasy)-12
20 22 YOUNG BLOOD –•– Bad Company (Swan Song)-10

21 26 MORE, MORE, MORE (Part 1) –•– The Andrea True Connection (Buddah)-11
22 25 LOVE REALLY HURTS WITHOUT YOU –•– Billy Ocean (Ariola America)-8
23 17 LET YOUR LOVE FLOW –•– The Bellamy Brothers (Warner Brothers / Curb)-17
24 28 UNION MAN –•– The Cate Brothers (Asylum)-16
25 32 MOVIN’ –•– Brass Construction (United Artists)-8
26 18 DISCO LADY –•– Johnnie Taylor (Columbia)-14
27 19 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY –•– Queen (Elektra)-21
28 35 I WANT YOU –•– Marvin Gaye (Tamla)-5
29 29 I’VE GOT A FEELING (We’ll Be Seeing Each Other Again) –•– Al Wilson (Playboy)-9
30 30 HURT / FOR THE HEART –•– Elvis Presley (RCA)-9

31 34 BARETTA’S THEME (“Keep Your Eyes On the Sparrow”) –•– Rhythm Heritage (ABC)-7
32 37 TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-6
33 38 ONE PIECE AT A TIME –•– Johhny Cash and the Tennessee Three (Columbia)-6
34 40 LOVE IS ALIVE –•– Gary Wright (Warner Brothers)-6
35 83 I.O.U. –•– Jimmy Dean (Casino)-2
36 23 COME ON OVER –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-11
37 46 ROCK AND ROLL LOVE LETTER –•– The Bay City Rollers (Arista)-4
38 47 I’LL BE GOOD TO YOU –•– The Brothers Johnson (A&M)-4
39 41 IT’S OVER –•– Boz Scaggs (Columbia)-7
40 48 NEVER GONNA FALL IN LOVE AGAIN –•– Eric Carmen (Arista)-4

May 1984 -- Let's Hear it For the Veterans

I blogged about a similar chart a year ago -- this was such peak MTV time -- so many of these artists had full hits packages and are still recurring 80's songs, perhaps especially tied to all the movies represented.  The bottom 10 has more (and fun!) one- or few hit wonders -- Tony Carey, Talk Talk, Style Council, Van Stephenson, Slade...but these are all held back by the veterans or emerging superstars.

Fun fact:  "Jump (for my Love) " was originally offered to Julio Iglesias (!!)  Also, the subtitle was added to deconflict it with the Van Halen huge hit.

Multiple 5-star songs -- Phil Collins, Pointer Sisters, Borderline... at the time, I would've said Phil's was my favorite, but I'm inclined to go with Madonna now -- the song that established her as not just a dance artist.

1 1 HELLO –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-13 (2 Weeks at #1) (1)

2 4 LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY –•– Deniece Williams (Columbia)-7 (2)

3 2 AGAINST ALL ODDS (Take A Look At Me Now) –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-13 (1)

4 3 HOLD ME NOW –•– Thompson Twins (Arista)-15 (3)

5 6 TO ALL THE GIRLS I’VE LOVED BEFORE –•– Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson (Columbia)-12 (5)

6 10 TIME AFTER TIME –•– Cyndi Lauper (Portrait)-6 (6)

7 5 LOVE SOMEBODY –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-11 (5)

8 9 OH SHERRIE –•– Steve Perry (Columbia)-7 (8)

9 7 YOU MIGHT THINK –•– The Cars (Elektra)-11 (7)

10 8 FOOTLOOSE –•– Kenny Loggins (Columbia)-17 (1)

11 12 HEAD OVER HEELS –•– The Go-Go’s (I.R.S.)-10 (11)
12 19 THE REFLEX –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-5 (12)
13 15 BREAKDANCE –•– Irene Cara (Geffen)-9 (13)
14 14 THE LONGEST TIME –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-9 (14)
15 16 AUTHORITY SONG –•– John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva)-10 (15)
16 17 SISTER CHRISTIAN –•– Night Ranger (MCA / Camel)-11 (16)
17 11 THEY DON’T KNOW –•– Tracey Ullman (MCA)-13 (8)
18 20 DANCING IN THE SHEETS –•– Shalamar (Columbia)-10 (18)
19 22 I’LL WAIT –•– Van Halen (Warner Brothers)-6 (19)
20 13 TONIGHT –•– Kool & The Gang (De-Lite)-13 (13)

21 27 THE HEART OF ROCK ‘N ROLL –•– Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)-5 (21)
22 25 BORDERLINE –•– Madonna (Sire)-11 (22)
23 23 NO MORE WORDS –•– Berlin (Geffen)-11 (23)
24 28 SELF CONTROL –•– Laura Branigan (Atlantic)-6 (24)
25 18 MISS ME BLIND –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-12 (5)
26 26 WHITE HORSE –•– Laid Back (Sire)-13 (26)
27 29 ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE –•– Scorpions (Mercury)-9 (27)
28 35 JUMP (For My Love) –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-4 (28)
29 33 YOU CAN’T GET WHAT YOU WANT (Til You Know What You Want) –•– Joe Jackson (A&M)-5 (29)
30 42 IT’S A MIRACLE –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-2 (30)

31 32 IT’S MY LIFE –•– Talk Talk (EMI-America)-9 (31)
32 34 RUN, RUNAWAY –•– Slade (CBS Associated)-7 (32)
33 24 A FINE FINE DAY –•– Tony Carey (MCA)-12 (22)
34 36 MY EVER CHANGING MOODS –•– Style Council (Geffen)-7 (34)
35 39 STAY THE NIGHT –•– Chicago (Full Moon / Warner Brothers)-3 (35)
36 38 LOVE WILL SHOW US HOW –•– Christine McVie (Warner Brothers)-4 (36)
37 40 MODERN DAY DELILAH –•– Van Stephenson (MCA)-5 (37)
38 45 WHO’S THAT GIRL –•– Eurythmics (RCA)-3 (38)
39 48 EYES WITHOUT A FACE –•– Billy Idol (Chrysalis)-3 (39)
40 65 ALMOST PARADISE –•– Mike Reno & Ann Wilson (Columbia)-2 (40)

This Week’s Drops

May 1974 -- crazy at the top

I got to hear the entire top 40 today -- and the first 4 songs I heard lots of times as I had some false starts with Sirius XM, which for this countdown does not let you skip tracks forward or back.

It's a funny crossing point here in 1974 -- you get the very beginnings of the disco era (MFSB), with plenty of the folk/adult contemporary that dominated the early 70s (Carpenters), plus solo Beatles, some awesome 70's soul (Gladys Knight, the Stylistics), and some early 70's standard acts that either went on to decades more of fame (Elton John, Chicago) or who flamed out when disco arrived (Three Dog Night).

James Brown had his token hit, which was apparently a problem for the producers of the show -- it was his usual sales-driven, heavy R&B, which never went too far up the charts, and sounded much like his others, and usually in the first hour of the show.

It all seemed normal enough until the top 10 -- there we had 3 instrumentals (!), the last ever Three Dog Night song (with a circus theme), the so-bad-it's-good "Midnight at the Oasis", a proper novelty hit at #2, and an odd remake at #1 -- Grand Funk remaking Carole King / Little Eva.

First hit: Earth, Wind, and Fire!  Five former #1's on the top 40, with 4 future ones.

Favorites: (4-stars) Sunshine on my Shoulders & You're the Best thing (my fav)  

1 1 THE LOCO-MOTION –•– Grand Funk (Capitol)-10 (2 weeks at #1)

2 6 THE STREAK –•– Ray Stevens (Barnaby)-5
3 5 DANCING MACHINE –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-9
4 11 THE ENTERTAINER –•– Marvin Hamlisch (MCA)-8
5 3 BENNIE AND THE JETS –•– Elton John (MCA)-13
6 9 THE SHOW MUST GO ON –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-9
7 8 TUBULAR BELLS –•– Mike Oldfield (Virgin)-12
8 2 TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) –•– MFSB Featuring the Three Degrees (Philadelphia International)-11
9 12 (I’ve Been) SEARCHIN’ SO LONG –•– Chicago (Columbia)-9
10 15 MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS –•– Maria Muldaur (Reprise)-12

11 4 BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME –•– Gladys Knight and the Pips (Buddah)-13
12 7 HOOKED ON A FEELING –•– Blue Swede (EMI)-13
13 17 YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW –•– The Sylistics (Avco)-8
14 22 BAND ON THE RUN –•– Paul McCartney and Wings (Apple)-4
15 21 I WON’T LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-5
16 14 COME AND GET YOUR LOVE –•– Redbone (Epic)-18
17 13 OH MY MY –•– Ringo Starr (Apple)-10
18 10 JUST DON’T WANT TO BE LONELY –•– The Main Ingredient (RCA)-15
19 23 HELP ME –•– Joni Mitchell (Asylum)-9
20 24 OH VERY YOUNG –•– Cat Stevens (A&M)-9

21 27 DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-6
22 16 I’LL HAVE TO SAY I LOVE YOU IN A SONG –•– Jim Croce (ABC)-11
23 32 FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY –•– The O’Jays (Philadelphia International)-5
24 18 LOOKIN’ FOR A LOVE –•– Bobby Womack (United Artists)-15
25 19 MY MISTAKE (Was To Love You) –•– Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye (Motown)-12
26 30 THE PAYBACK (Part 1) –•– James Brown (Polydor)-8
27 20 SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS –•– John Denver (RCA)-16
28 26 KEEP ON SINGING –•– Helen Reddy (Capitol)-10
29 39 MY GIRL BILL –•– Jim Stafford (MGM)-4
30 36 I’M IN LOVE –•– Aretha Franklin (Atlantic)-6

31 35 MIGHTY MIGHTY –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (Columbia)-10
32 28 SEASONS IN THE SUN –•– Terry Jacks (Bell)-18
33 25 THE LORD’S PRAYER –•– Sister Janet Mead (A&M)-12
34 41 LET’S GET MARRIED –•– Al Green (Hi)-7
35 29 LET IT RIDE –•– Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Mercury)-12
36 46 SUNDOWN –•– Gordon Lightfoot (Reprise)-5
37 33 MOCKINGBIRD –•– Carly Simon and James Taylor (Elektra)-15
38 57 BILLY, DON’T BE A HERO –•– Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (ABC)-4
39 50 IF YOU LOVE ME (Let Me Know) –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-5
40 48 STANDING AT THE END OF THE LINE –•– Lobo (Big Tree)-5

May 1980 -- Easy Breezy...or is it?

It was a peak time for yacht rock & beautiful duets, so what in the world were Blondie and Pink Floyd doing topping the chart?

Check out the first timers this week:  Air Supply, Christopher Cross, Robbie Dupree
Last top 10 hit:  Eagles
Mysterious low charters:  Whispers, Journey

This is an awesome chart -- listening to it all through 3 times this week.

5-star songs -- 7!  (I only have 400 such songs in all of pop history)  Christopher Cross, Blondie, Brothers Johnson, Bette Midler, Billy Preston, Journey, and Michael Jackson.

My favorite:  The Rose

1 1 CALL ME –•– Blondie (Chrysalis)-11 (3 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 RIDE LIKE THE WIND –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-12 (2)
3 6 LOST IN LOVE –•– Air Supply (Arista)-13 (3)
4 4 WITH YOU I’M BORN AGAIN –•– Billy Preston and Syreeta (Motown)-22 (4)
5 3 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (Part 2) –•– Pink Floyd (Columbia)-16 (1)
6 7 FIRE LAKE –•– Bob Seger (Capitol)-11 (6)
7 9 YOU MAY BE RIGHT –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-8 (7)
8 8 I CAN’T TELL YOU WHY –•– The Eagles (Asylum)-11 (8)
9 10 SEXY EYES –•– Dr. Hook (Capitol)-12 (9)
10 12 HOLD ON TO MY LOVE –•– Jimmy Ruffin (RSO)-10 (10)

11 13 DON’T FALL IN LOVE WITH A DREAMER –•– Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes (United Artists)-6 (11)
12 5 SPECIAL LADY –•– Ray, Goodman and Brown (Polydor)-15 (5)
13 15 PILOT OF THE AIRWAVES –•– Charlie Dore (Island)-11 (13)
14 17 BIGGEST PART OF ME –•– Ambrosia (Warner Brothers)-5 (14)
15 18 HURTS SO BAD –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)-4 (15)
16 11 WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU / FORGIVE ME GIRL (Medley) –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-21 (2)
17 21 I CAN’T HELP IT –•– Andy Gibb and Olivia Newton-John (RSO)-6 (17)
18 22 CARS –•– Gary Numan (Atco)-12 (18)
19 26 BRASS IN POCKET (I’m Special) –•– The Pretenders (Sire)-12 (19)
20 20 THINK ABOUT ME –•– Fleetwood Mac (Warner Brothers)-9 (20)

21 24 STOMP –•– The Brothers Johnson (A&M)-8 (21)
22 25 BREAKDOWN DEAD AHEAD –•– Boz Scaggs (Columbia)-6 (22)
23 23 ANYWAY YOU WANT IT –•– Journey (Columbia)-10 (23)
24 29 FUNKY TOWN –•– Lipps, Inc. (Casablanca)-6 (24)
25 14 TOO HOT –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-16 (5)
26 31 DO RIGHT –•– Paul Davis (Bang)-9 (26)
27 33 HEART HOTELS –•– Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon)-7 (33)
28 19 I PLEDGE MY LOVE –•– Peaches and Herb (Polydor)-16 (19)
29 39 THE ROSE –•– Bette Midler (Atlantic)-7 (29)
30 16 OFF THE WALL –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-12 (10)

31 28 AND THE BEAT GOES ON –•– The Whispers (Solar)-13 (19)
32 32 FIRE IN THE MORNING –•– Melissa Manchester (Arista)-11 (32)
33 59 STEAL AWAY –•– Robbie Dupree (Elektra)-4 (33)
34 38 TRAIN IN VAIN (Stand By Me) –•– The Clash (Epic)-7 (34)
35 40 THE SEDUCTION (Love Theme) –•– The James Last Band (Polydor)-6 (35)
36 27 CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE –•– Queen (Elektra)-20 (1)
37 41 LET ME BE THE CLOCK –•– Smokey Robinson (Tamla)-8 (37)
38 42 WONDERING WHERE THE LIONS ARE –•– Bruce Cockburn (Millenium)-7 (38)
39 46 LET’S GET SERIOUS –•– Jermaine Jackson (Motown)-6 (39)
40 48 STARTING OVER AGAIN –•– Dolly Parton (RCA)-6 (40)

May 1975 -- A/C fading

I heard the whole top 40 this week as I was coming back from Indianapolis at the right time.  While disco had begun, we were still in that fun but awkward pre-disco era where naff songs like Tony Orlando's can still hit #1.

Early 70's adult contemporary was fading -- this was the last top 10 hit for Daw, the Carpenters, and B.J. Thomas, while Neil Sedaka and John Denver were almost done. Barry Manilow took up the mantle through about 1983.

The craziest song of the week (year!) was #30 -- a novelty record from 1946 (!!) played on the Dr. Demento program as a novelty before being re-released.  This week Casey announced that the record had long been mis-attributed to Benny Bell, including on his show, but it was actually Paul Wynne on vocals.

First hit:  Queen, and David Bowie had yet to break big.

Favorites: Elton John, John Denver, Minnie Riperton, and the only 5-star "Walking in Rhythm" by the Blackbirds!

1 3 HE DON’T LOVE YOU (Like I Love You) –•– Tony Orlando and Dawn (Elektra)-8 (1 week at #1)
2 1 (Hey Won’t You Play) ANOTHER SOMEBODY DONE SOMEBODY WRONG SONG –•– B.J. Thomas (ABC)-14
3 7 BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS –•– Freddy Fender (ABC / Dot)-14
4 2 PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM –•– The Elton John Band (MCA)-9
5 6 CHEVY VAN –•– Sammy Johns (GRC)-14
6 14 JACKIE BLUE –•– The Ozark Mountain Daredevils (A&M)-13
7 11 SHINING STAR –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (Columbia)-12
8 10 WALKING IN RHYTHM –•– The Blackbyrds (Fantasy)-13
9 12 LONG TALL GLASSES (I Can Dance) –•– Leo Sayer (Warner Brothers)-11
10 21 ONLY YESTERDAY –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-6

11 15 I DON’T LIKE TO SLEEP ALONE –•– Paul Anka (with Odia Coates) (United Artists)-8
12 19 HOW LONG –•– Ace (Anchor)-9
13 17 IT’S A MIRACLE –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-10
14 18 KILLER QUEEN –•– Queen (Elektra)-13
15 22 THANK GOD I’M A COUNTRY BOY –•– John Denver (RCA)-7
16 16 THE BERTHA BUTT BOOGIE (Part 1) –•– The Jimmy Castor Bunch (Atlantic)-11
17 4 LOVIN’ YOU –•– Minnie Riperton (Epic)-16
18 13 L-O-V-E (Love) –•– Al Green (Hi)-10
19 8 EMMA –•– Hot Chocolate (Big Tree)-13
20 20 STAND BY ME –•– John Lennon (Apple)-8

21 5 SUPERNATURAL THING (Part 1) –•– Ben E. King (Atlantic)-13
22 9 WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH YOU –•– Barry White (20th Century)-9
23 25 SHOESHINE BOY –•– Eddie Kendricks (Tamla)-12
24 28 BAD TIME –•– Grand Funk (Capitol)-5
25 26 AUTOBAHN –•– Kraftwerk (Vertigo)-8
26 34 HIJACK –•– Herbie Mann (Atlantic)-10
27 31 LOVE WON’T LET ME WAIT –•– Major Harris (Atlantic)-6
28 32 SISTER GOLDEN HAIR –•– America (Warner Brothers)-5
29 29 YOUNG AMERICANS –•– David Bowie (RCA)-8
30 30 SHAVING CREAM –•– Benny Bell (Paul Wynn) (Vanguard)-9

31 35 THE IMMIGRANT –•– Neil Sedaka (Rocket)-6
32 36 CUT THE CAKE –•– The Average White Band (AWB) (Atlantic)-4
33 38 WHEN WILL I BE LOVED / IT DOESN’T MATTER ANYMORE –•– Linda Ronstadt (Capitol)-4
34 39 I’M NOT LISA –•– Jessi Colter (Capitol)-5
35 40 DON’T TELL ME GOODNIGHT –•– Lobo (Big Tree)-6
36 41 ONLY WOMEN –•– Alice Cooper (Atlantic)-5
37 42 RAINY DAY PEOPLE –•– Gordon Lightfoot (Reprise)-6
38 43 BAD LUCK (Part 1) –•– Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (Phila. Intl.)-7
39 37 SHAKEY GROUND –•– The Temptations (Gordy)-7
40 47 WILDFIRE –•– Michael Murphy (Epic)-6